Advertisement underlines ambition to achieve smoke-free future
Philip Morris Limited (PML) has launched a new advertisement announcing its New Year’s resolution to try to “give up cigarettes”. The advertisement encourages adult smokers to visit a new website – www.smokefreefuture.co.uk – that contains information on quitting and on switching.
The advertisement, “Our New Year’s Resolution: we’re trying to give up cigarettes”, will run on 2nd January 2018 in a number of national newspapers.
In addition, the advertisement makes a number of specific commitments for the UK for 2018:
- Launch a website and campaign to provide smokers with information on quitting and on alternatives to cigarettes;
- Offer to support Local Authority cessation services where smoking rates are highest;
- Seek Government approval to insert, directly into our cigarette packs, information on quitting and on switching;
- Expand the availability of new, alternative products in the UK.
The advertisement also outlines how the business has spent more than £2.5billion on research, product and commercial development over the past decade to develop smoke free alternatives. Underpinning PML’s commitment, Peter Nixon, Managing Director of PML has written to the Prime Minister outlining how the company believes they can play a part in helping Britain to go smoke free. He commented: “We believe we have an important role to play in helping the UK become smokefree. The commitments announced today are practical steps that could accelerate that goal. We recognise that never starting to smoke - or quitting altogether - are always the best option. But for those who continue to smoke, there are more alternatives than ever available in the UK.”
ENDS
Philip Morris Limited:
Philip Morris Limited (PML) is the UK and Ireland affiliate of Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI). The company is responsible for the merchandising of PMI brands in the UK, including IQOS/HEETS, the UK’s first heated tobacco product. PML is also a leading supplier of e-cigarettes in the UK, and owns the Nicocig, Vivid and MESH brands.
PMI has made a commitment to develop, market, and sell smoke-free alternatives, and encourage adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke to switch to these alternatives, as quickly as possible around the world. For more information, see www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com. Never starting to smoke - or quitting – is always best. For those who would not otherwise stop, there are better alternatives than continuing to smoke. You can find out more about quitting and about alternatives to smoking at our new website at www.smokefreefuture.co.uk.
Contact:
For media enquiries in UK:
Phone: 020 7025 1373 - Email: pml@pha-media.com
For international media enquiries:
Philip Morris International Press Office - Lausanne, Switzerland (Central European Time (GMT +1)):
Phone: +41 (0)58 242 45 00 - Email: media@pmi.com
Notes to Editors:
i) The Tobacco Control Plan (TCP) was launched in July 2017 and aims to create a smoke-freegeneration in England by reducing smoking rates to a general prevalence target (12% of the populationby the end of 2022).
The TCP further states that the Government is committed to evidence-based policy making so it aims to:
- Help people to quit smoking by permitting innovative technologies that minimise the risk of harm
- Maximise the availability of safer alternatives to smoking